DIY DYEING: 5 FORAGED FINDS

Try your hand at natural dyeing with these common but potent plants. Before plant dyeing, mordant your material with wood ash from your fire or rhubarb leaves. Weigh your fabric while dry to determine how much mordant you will need – the proportion of mordant will be 10-20 per cent of the dried weight. Boiling the fabric with the ash or rhubarb leaves will ensure the colour adheres.

ST JOHN’S WORT FOUND IN HEDGEROWS AND VERGES, THIS WILD FLOWER’S AUTUMNAL BERRIES WILL GIVE A SUMPTUOUS RED.

HAWTHORN PICK PRICKLY TWIGS WITH CARE AND USE THEM TO TURN FABRIC PEACHY-PINK.

WILLOW THE SLENDER LEAVES OF THE WEEPING WILLOW MAKE A GLORIOUS GOLDEN YELLOW.

ROSEMARY A FEW SPRIGS FROM THE GARDEN WILL TURN CLOTH SHADES OF PURPLISH GREY.

BRAMBLE FABRIC WILL PICK UP RICH BROWNS AND GREYS FROM BRAMBLE LEAVES, OR USE ITS TWIGS TO CREATE PRETTY PINKS.